News In Brief

Defence Secretary George Robertson is appointing a journalist as a special adviser. Bernard Gray, defence correspondent at the Financial Times, will take up his post early next month. He will work alongside Alasdair McGowan, who was previously research assistant to Mr Robertson in his role as Shadow Scottish Secretary from 1993-97. A total of 53 special advisers are being appointed to Government departments and Downing Street by the new Labour Government. Most departments have two special advisers and traditionally consist of one young party activist and a respected outsider with recognised experience in a particular field.

A Home Office check on gun crime has found that 129 victims out of 196 were killed by illegally held weapons. A check on murders between 1992 to 1994 investigated 196 shootings in England and Wales. Home Office Minister Alun Michael said in a Commons written reply that it was not possible to identify incidents where non-fatal injuries were caused but police figures showed that the largest number of shootings with such weapons took place in London where there were 42 murders. Thirty three shootings involved handguns and seven out of nine shotgun killings involved twelve bore shotguns.

European Union environment ministers have backed Britain's call for urgent action to halt the threat of new self-cooling "chill cans". They have asked for a study on the risks of the revolutionary cans, which use a gas, HFC-134a, instantly to cool drinks. The invention has sparked worldwide interest from the refreshments industry. But scientists warn that if they go on sale the cans could wreck international efforts to curb global warming.

The supermarket chain, Asda, has launched a campaign to end VAT being charged on tampons and sanitary towels. It is cutting the cost of its own-brand range by 17.5% and lobbying the Government and European Union ministers to get the products zero-rated. The store says it is unfair that women should have to pay tax on essential hygiene products. VAT on tampons is estimated to net the Treasury around £40 million a year.